Article transfer mechanism



April 10, 1956 R. T. AXTON 2,741,356

ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed May 24, 1952 INVENTOR. 18 HQBEHT 77Ax7'a1v BYMMW flTTOHNEY United States Patent ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANKSM Robert T. Axton, Louisville, Ky., assignor of four-tenths to Edward A. Dodd, Louisville, Ky.

Application May 24, 1952, Serial No. 289,740

Claims. (Cl. 198-20) This invention relates to a reversing conveyor, and relates in particular to a mechanism for positioning articles for reverse travel from one conveyor to another.

In states which require that a tax stamp be aflixed to each cigarette package, wholesale tobacconists have to open each cigarette carton (which contains ten packages of cigarettes), affix the stamp to the individual package of cigarettes, then seal the caron and repackage it in the shipping container. Machines are available for performing the operation of opening the carton, aifixing the stamps and applying glue to the carton flaps for rescaling. The operation of such machines requires an operator at the feeding end, and an operator at the discharge end. The latter operator seals the cartons and repacks them in the shipping container for delivery to the retailer.

The object of the present invention is to provide such a machine which dispenses with the operator at the discharge end. According to the present invention I provide a return or reverse conveyor and a simple transfer mechanism for transferring a carton in proper position on the return conveyor. In the preferred embodiment a return conveyor is arranged adjacent the stamp aflixing mechanism, and the transfer mechanism includes ejector means arranged to grasp a carton on the feed conveyor and forcibly eject the carton. A resilient bufler may be arranged so that the ejected carton strikes the bufiler and rebounds to cause the rear end of the carton to be guided to the return conveyor. The bufier preferably is arranged to shift the front end of the carton onto the return conveyor, so that the carton now is returned by the return conveyor to the operator, who seals the cartons and repacks them for delivery.

The invention will be described in greater detail in the following specification wherein connection with the following drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view showing the invention with certain parts removed;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing certain details.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a cigarette carton 1 which has been opened and has stamps aflixed to the individual cigarette packages therein; this carton having passed the glue applying mechanism and is being pushed down a chute 2 past the flap folding mechanisms 3, 4. A bracket 5 at the end of this chute has the vertical rollers 6, 7 driven from a pulley 8 on shaft 9 through mitre gears 11. These rollers, may have a coating of soft rubber thereon and as the cigarette carton enters between the rollers they grip the carton and forcibly eject it to the 5 right.

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Beyond the rollers is mounted a pulley 12 on a suitable adjustable bearing support 13, and an endless belt 14 passing around this pulley extends back to the position of the machine operator where it passes around another pulley. This belt is disposed in diverging relation to the chute 2 and passes adjacent the roller 7. A guide plate 15 is positioned between the rollers 6, 7 and the pulley 12, and has a deflector wall 16 to guide ejected cartons toward the belt. Inside and outside guide walls 17, 18 are provided along the upper flight of the belt 14, and at the end of wall 18 is mounted an angle plate 19, to which is hinged a plate 21 disposed at an angle sloping toward conveyor belt 14. One leg of the angle plate carries a rod 22 on which is located a spring 23 which engages the hinged flap or plate 21. A pin 24 attached to the flap 21 passes through a hole in the angle plate so as to limit the angular position of the hinged flap. The angle plate 19 is mounted in any suitable manner to be adjusted so as to position the hinged plate 21 the proper distance from the ejector rollers. A cover 25 positioned over the guide plate 15 holds the open box flaps down so they do not catch on the part of bracket 5 overhanging the belt conveyor. This cover may be adjusted vertically as required.

In operation, when a carton is forcibly ejected by the rollers 6, 7 it strikes the butter flap 21 and because of the inclination of this flap, the forward end of the carton slides over toward the belt at the same time that the flap retracts against the action of the spring 23. The spring immediately returns the flap and the return conveyor together with the return action of the flap presses the carton against the roller 7, which guides the end of the carton on to the belt conveyor, and the belt conveyor then returns the carton to the operator at the feed end of the machine.

I claim as my invention:

1. A reversing conveyor apparatus comprising: a pair of pinch rollers arranged to rotate about vertical axes for receiving an article between them and ejecting said article forwardly; a return conveyor means extending alongside one of said rollers forwardly and rearwardly of said one roller; and a buffer member adjacent said return conveyor forwardly of said pinch rollers a distance greater than the length of the article ejected by said rollers and arranged to rebound said ejected article endwise against said one roller for deflecting said article onto the return conveyor means.

2. A reversing conveyor as specified in claim I having: a fiat surface between the pinch rollers and bufier for supporting said article in its movement therebetween.

3. A reversing conveyor as specified in claim 2 having: a deflector between the pinch rollers and bufier sloping from adjacent the pinch rollers toward said bufier.

4. A reversing conveyor as specified in claim 3 wherein: said return conveyor means comprises a rearwardly moving belt.

5. A reversing conveyor as specified in claim 2 having: a chute rearwardly of said pinch rollers for feeding articles to the pinch rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 190,212 Gustin May 1, 1877 1,960,307 Fisk May 29, 1934 2,014,855 Lowndes Sept. 17, 1935 

